Adding this one thing to your work desk reduces your chance of illness

ICYMI, indoor plants are having a bit of a moment right now in the workplace. They max productivity, up creativity and make your desk look Pinterest perfect. But there’s one major benefit to greening out your space: keeping your health in check.

“Beneficial bacteria on indoor plants and in their soil are an important addition to the office, stabilising the ecology of the built synthetic environment,” researcher Danica-Lea Larcombe writes for The Conversation.

“[It] could also help to avoid outbreaks of pathogens by balancing the complex network of the ecosystem. A wholesome balance may reduce the indigence of viral illness and the number of sick days among staff.”

In a study across 51 offices by the Agricultural University of Olso, Norway, those that contained plants had a 30 percent reduction in reported sore throats, 40 percent in coughs and 30 percent in headaches. General fatigue was also reduced by up to 20 percent.

Getty

And that’s not the only reason to fork out for a fiddle-leaf fig.

Plants can clear the air of toxic substances that are commonly found in office furnishings and cleaning products (looking at you, ammonia).

“Ideally, you want plants that will ‘scrub’ the air of pathogens, improve the office’s mix of bacteria, and survive in low light with little care,” adds Danica.

Lucy BodeLucy Bode is a writer, social media guru and resident woo. A long black lover and foodie at heart, she considers peanut butter an hourly staple and believes chardonnay is the superior drop. When she's not at the beach, barre or yoga studio you'll find her coming up with new and improved ways to kill her unkillable houseplants.